FootballSaturday, September 24, 2016
6
happened.
Instead of letting the frustration
ruin him, Morris let the burden
that he had carried on his back
since he was 16 years old slowly slip
away. His world didn’t crumble — if
anything, he learned that his world
and football were not always one
and the same.
Part of that realization came
from having a strong foundation of
loved ones to back him up. Morris
still calls or texts his parents
every day, and he mentioned that
his girlfriend of two years, Irene,
a recent Michigan graduate, is
always there after games. (“She’s a
keeper,” he said with a smile.)
“As college has gone on, you
kind of learn to put things in front
of yourself and not
make yourself the
most
important,”
Morris said. “Kind
of
realize
you’ve
got
other
things
that are way more
important,
like
other people. … I
feel like I’ve done
that. I’ve become
a
much
happier
person,
enjoying
life and really taking in all it has to
offer.”
It’s not clear when, exactly,
Morris’ mindset shifted. Bruce
Morris isn’t sure it ever did, but
thinks rather that Shane simply
decided to “(wear) it a little more
on (his) sleeve.”
In
any
case,
the
constant
competition has helped Morris’
game on the field just as much as it
maintained his confidence off of it.
No longer does he cringe when he
throws an interception in practice
or dwell on the fact that he’s not
the first player taking snaps on
Saturdays.
He’s also managed to solve
the one problem that a number
of
players
probably
couldn’t:
separating his love for Michigan
from his love for football.
“He
approaches
things
differently, I think,” Bruce Morris
said. “His team is very important to
him. He loves them guys, he truly
loves his teammates and the guys.
That’s one of the things, I think,
that keeps a lot of those guys going
when they feel like they should
be the starter, if you will, because
every one of them do.”
His teammates have noticed,
too.
Wilton
Speight
was
an
early enrollee during the second
semester of Morris’ freshman year,
and Morris took him under his wing
as soon as he got on campus. Now,
over two years later, Speight holds
the starting quarterback job that
Morris coveted, but he still finds
ways he can learn from Morris.
“That kid’s been through a lot,”
Speight said. “With the whole
Minnesota debacle, how much
hype he came in with, the coaching
changes and stuff — he’s stayed
very level-headed through it all.
He’s never gotten too down, he’s
never gotten too high. He’s just a
really chill dude. And I see that if
he can maintain that roller coaster
that he’s been through and been
just the same dude, then no matter
what I go through this season as
the starter or not, hopefully I can
remain a chill dude, too.”
* * *
It’s unclear what the future
holds for Shane Morris, but he has
no regrets about his last four years,
no matter how it
played out.
“When I was 17,
18 years old, you
can kind of let (the
hype) get to you and
start to think you’re
expected
to
do
these things, when
in
reality
you’re
not expected to do
anything,”
Morris
said. “The fact that
I’m here playing football at the
University of Michigan and getting
a degree from here is amazing
enough in itself. You’ve gotta kind
of realize that as you get older.
“I just turned 22 (on August 4).
You grow up and you kinda realize
how life works. All you can do
is go through life, and I believe
everything happens for a reason.
Just keep fighting and work as hard
as you can.”
There was a time when Morris
probably couldn’t have imagined
life after football. But in April, he
will graduate with a degree in sport
management and may leave it behind
forever. There is no set alternative in
mind, but his father speculates that
his love for getting to know people
might lead him into something like
business or coaching.
Still, the fact that Morris took
a redshirt year last season leaves
him with an opportunity to play
his final year of eligibility next
season either at Michigan or as a
graduate transfer somewhere else,
a la Rudock. Even Morris’ own
parents have heard rumors from
strangers that their son might be
transferring.
But for the Morrises, it’s easy
to laugh that off. As of now, they
say there has never even been a
discussion.
“He’s blue, let me tell you,” Bruce
said. “He would have left a long
time ago, would he not have?”
MORRIS
From Page 5B
“It’s the past of
my life. I don’t
really think about
it anymore.”
Behind Enemy Lines: Brandon Bell
Last season, then-No. 13 Michigan
quieted a raucous Happy Valley when
it defeated the Nittany Lions, 28-16.
Though the Wolverines controlled
Penn State throughout all four
quarters, the Nittany Lions did hold
them to just 87 rushing yards for an
average of 2.9 yards per run.
Senior linebacker Brandon Bell led
his unit’s attack on the running game,
recording five total tackles, one for a
loss of seven yards. More memorably,
he
recorded
his
second
career
interception in the first quarter,
returning it 25 yards into Michigan
territory. But Penn State failed to take
advantage, going three-and-out on
the following drive.
Later in the game, Bell gave
his
teammates
favorable
field
position
once
more
when
he
stripped quarterback Jake Rudock
and recovered the fumble on the
Wolverines’ 42-yard line. Bell’s
recovery resulted in a field goal,
putting his team within eight
points of Michigan, but it ultimately
wasn’t enough.
This Saturday, when the Nittany
Lions
(2-1)
travel
to
Michigan
Stadium, Bell may not get to see
the field, posing a large problem for
Penn State. In his first two games of
the season, he posted eight and nine
tackles, respectively, before being
sidelined with an injury last week.
In July, the Daily spoke with Bell
at Big Ten Media Days in Chicago to
discuss his valuable role last season,
Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh and
rivalries.
The Michigan Daily: I know you
had a big game against Michigan
last season, but it didn’t end in Penn
State’s favor. What was that game
like, and what are you going to do
differently this time around?
Brandon Bell: That game was
fun. I mean, I was looking forward
to playing Michigan again for the
second time in my career — third
time, but not really (playing much)
the first time. I think we definitely
have to be more consistent. I think
Michigan was more consistent than
we were. When it came down to the
end of the game, they made the plays
that were presented to them. If we
(are) more consistent, we have a
chance of making those plays.
TMD: What will it be like to play in
the Big House this time around?
BB: I think it will be great. I’m
looking forward to it. It’s my last
chance to play there. I have a few
friends on the team, so I’m looking
forward to it.
TMD: Who are your friends on the
team?
BB: Freshman Ahmir Mitchell.
He’s like a little brother to me back
home, same (home) town. I know
his older brother. He’s been talking a
little trash to me, so I’m excited.
(Note: Mitchell left Michigan prior
to the start of the season in early
September. He transferred to another
Big Ten East team, Rutgers, but will sit
out this season due to transfer rules.)
TMD: He’s talking trash already?
BB: Yeah, just a little bit.
TMD: Do you think you’ll be
seeing him play as a freshman?
BB: I hope I do! I mean I’m not sure
how he’s been doing, but if he gets a
chance to get on the field, I hope I see
him.
TMD: What do you think of all of
this Harbaugh mania and everything?
Do you like playing against all of that?
BB: Yeah, I kinda like it. I mean,
I don’t — he’s kinda funny. Just
watching him today, some of the
things — I think it’s real, which is a
big thing, for the people that might be
skeptical. I think that’s really who he
is, so I love it. At the end of the day,
we’re just playing football.
Question: A lot of your success, of
course, is going to be judged by games
against Michigan, Michigan State,
Ohio State, and even Pitt, an in-state
rival. Do you sense that, that in order
to get to that next level that fans want
to be at, do you feel that this is kind
of a big year for you to make a bigger
step against those teams?
BB: I mean definitely. Every year
and every game is a big step. We
don’t wanna go out there — we’re not
playing to lose. So I mean, definitely
with Pitt, it’s kind of a fan game. A
lot of Pennsylvania people go to each
school, so it kind of has become a
rivalry. In terms of Michigan and
Ohio State, those are the top-tier
teams, and those guys have the
target on their back that everyone is
shooting for.
Q: Coach Franklin says you guys
have expectations this year. What do
you think they are?
BB: I say, Big Ten — get to
Indianapolis. I mean, when you’re
playing against Ohio State, Michigan,
Michigan State, that’s what they’re
shooting for. That’s the top tier.
There’s no reason we shouldn’t be
right there with them.
FILE PHOTO/Daily
Penn State linebacker Brandon Bell (11) played a key role in last year’s game against Michigan, but he’ll miss Saturday’s matchup.
KELLY HALL
Daily Sports Editor